Abstract
FE contact and thermal macro/micro-models have been developed to study the real contact and thermal behaviour of a fibre/matrix micro-structure under sliding motion against a steel asperity. The composite material studied consisted of carbon fibres, at different fibre orientations, and a polyether–etherketone (PEEK) matrix. At first, the contact parameters were evaluated using an approximate contact technique, followed by a transient thermal FE evaluation. The latter considers the heat partition between the steel asperity and the real fibre/matrix micro-environment of the composite material. To study the effect of the compacted wear debris layer, additional FE elements on top of the model, with the properties of the PEEK matrix material, were introduced. The temperature results obtained were compared with those representing a macroscopic approach.